Study Of The Use Of Medicinal Plants By The Malay Community In Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency

Feb 28, 2025 by ADMIN 104 views

Examining the Local Wisdom of the Malay Community in Tanjung Tiram District: Utilization of Medicinal Plants

The Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency, has a rich tradition of utilizing medicinal plants for various purposes. This study aims to examine the local wisdom of the Malay community in utilizing medicinal plants, with a focus on the types of plants used, their cultural significance, and the factors affecting the decline in knowledge about their use.

Background of the Study

Research on the use of medicinal plants has been carried out in various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia. The Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency, is one of the communities that have been utilizing medicinal plants for generations. However, with the increasing availability of modern medicines, there is a concern that the knowledge of the use of medicinal plants may be lost.

Methodology

This study combines quantitative and qualitative methods in data collection. The techniques used include purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires, and analyzed using use value (UVS), _relative used value (RUVI), _index of cultural significance (ICS), and degradation of society knowledge (D).

Results

The results of the study revealed that the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District utilized 85 types of medicinal plants. From all of these plants, the betel plant (Piper betle L) has the highest value of 11.50 and the highest cultural significance, which is 144. Meanwhile, the Kalancchoa sp has the lowest use 5.

Further analysis shows that the eleusine indica plant has the highest value _relative use value of 4.00, while the uncaria gambir roxb has the lowest _relative use value, which is 0.46.

The results of the analysis degradation of society knowledge (D) show that the decrease in knowledge about the highest use of medicinal plants occurs in the age group A (15-29 years) with a percentage of 13.47%, while the age group B (30-49 years) has decreased by 2.98%.

Discussion

The findings of this study show that the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District has high local knowledge and wisdom in utilizing medicinal plants. However, it is necessary to preserve and develop these knowledge so as not to disappear along with changes in the times.

The factors that can affect the decline in knowledge about the use of medicinal plants include:

Lifestyle Changes: Modern society tends to prefer conventional medicine over traditional medicine.
Lack of interest in the younger generation: The younger generation is less interested in learning and preserving knowledge about medicinal plants.
Availability of Modern Medicines: Ease of access to modern drugs makes it easier for people to get treatment.

Implications

This study has several important implications, including:

The Importance of Preservation of Traditional Knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.
Development of Educational Programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Research and Development Development (Research and Development): Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.

Conclusion

This study provides useful information for efforts to preserve and develop knowledge about the use of medicinal plants in the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency. The findings of this study highlight the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and developing educational programs to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation in utilizing medicinal plants.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Conduct further research: Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.
Develop educational programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Preserve traditional knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Limited sample size: The sample size of this study is limited to the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency.
Limited data collection: The data collection for this study was limited to interviews and questionnaires.

Future Research Directions

Future research directions include:

Examining the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants: Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.
Developing educational programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Preserving traditional knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides useful information for efforts to preserve and develop knowledge about the use of medicinal plants in the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency. The findings of this study highlight the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and developing educational programs to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation in utilizing medicinal plants.

Q: What is the main objective of the study?

A: The main objective of the study is to examine the local wisdom of the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency, in utilizing medicinal plants, with a focus on the types of plants used, their cultural significance, and the factors affecting the decline in knowledge about their use.

Q: What methods were used in the study?

A: The study combined quantitative and qualitative methods in data collection, using techniques such as purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires, and analyzed using use value (UVS), _relative used value (RUVI), _index of cultural significance (ICS), and degradation of society knowledge (D).

Q: What were the results of the study?

A: The results of the study revealed that the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District utilized 85 types of medicinal plants. From all of these plants, the betel plant (Piper betle L) has the highest value of 11.50 and the highest cultural significance, which is 144. Meanwhile, the Kalancchoa sp has the lowest use 5.

Q: What are the factors that can affect the decline in knowledge about the use of medicinal plants?

A: The factors that can affect the decline in knowledge about the use of medicinal plants include:

Lifestyle Changes: Modern society tends to prefer conventional medicine over traditional medicine.
Lack of interest in the younger generation: The younger generation is less interested in learning and preserving knowledge about medicinal plants.
Availability of Modern Medicines: Ease of access to modern drugs makes it easier for people to get treatment.

Q: What are the implications of the study?

A: The study has several important implications, including:

The Importance of Preservation of Traditional Knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.
Development of Educational Programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Research and Development Development (Research and Development): Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.

Q: What are the recommendations of the study?

A: Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made:

Conduct further research: Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.
Develop educational programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Preserve traditional knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including:

Limited sample size: The sample size of this study is limited to the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency.
Limited data collection: The data collection for this study was limited to interviews and questionnaires.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research directions include:

Examining the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants: Further research is needed to examine the potential and effectiveness of medicinal plants used by the Malay community.
Developing educational programs: Educational programs are needed to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation of the use of medicinal plants.
Preserving traditional knowledge: Knowledge of the use of medicinal plants is a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved.

Q: What is the significance of the study?

A: The study provides useful information for efforts to preserve and develop knowledge about the use of medicinal plants in the Malay community in Tanjung Tiram District, Batubara Regency. The findings of this study highlight the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and developing educational programs to increase the knowledge and interest of the younger generation in utilizing medicinal plants.